To Catania

The Sicilian rail network has a line from Palermo to Agrigento but no further. To get to Catania by rail, one would have to backtrack towards Palermo and travel along the north coast and then turn south to Catania. So I bought a bus ticket for this leg.

Unfortunately the rains had followed me. I guess I was lucky to have a fine day at the temples and have rain while in transit. Still, it was a cold wait, but partly in a cafe opposite the bus stand.

I had paid a little more for a seat on the upper storey of the bus at the front, so I was able to take photos of the highway scenes. The highways were of good quality.

This area is full of hilltop towns, highways, and concrete flyovers.

At least the skies looked hopeful as we headed towards the east coast.

Some of the towns actually looked quite livable. Of course these are not the 1€ houses that were in the news; those are in the old towns on hilltops where present day people don't want to live, preferring the cities and the coast.

A few hours later I was in Catania. My lodgings were a little outside of the centre but still walking distance to the main drag, Via Etnea. Being a Friday and a workday, I was able to find a local restaurant for lunch where I had pasta with seafood. From the greetings passing between the customers and the owner, they were on familiar terms.

I did a little shopping for snack food and drinks, now that I had a stable base for 4 days, then rested for the afternoon, leaving the sightseeing for the next day.

In the evening I found a place near the centre serving simple grilled meals. I was glad of chips, a change from the pasta.